Sunday, February 17, 2013

Stem cell treatment for AMD

This is what a patient with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) sees.

News on 2/17/2013:

TOKYO — Researchers in Japan have moved one step closer to clinical trials using adult stem cells in a therapy they hope will prove a cure for common sight problems.

The ethics committee at the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Kobe, last Wednesday approved a trial treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells.

The trial is aimed at creating retinal cells that can be transplanted into the eyes of patients suffering from AMD, a presently incurable disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older people and can lead to blindness.

Stem cell treatment vs artificial retina implant: the race is now on.